[00:00:02]
[1. CALL TO ORDER]
WE'RE GOING TO GET OUR BUDGET COMMITTEE MEETING UNDERWAY.JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?
>> SO WE DO HAVE A QUORUM. I THINK OTHERS ARE ON THEIR WAY.
MS. GREEN IS WALKING THROUGH THE DOOR.
CAN I GET APPROVAL ON OUR MINUTES?
[3. APPROVAL OF MINUTES]
>> IT'S ALL THERE. LET'S VOTE.
>> THOSE IN FAVOR OF LET IT BE KNOWN BY SAYING AYE?
>> THOSE THAT OPPOSE? MOVING ON TO NEW BUSINESS.
[4. NEW BUSINESS]
I PERSONAL REQUEST NO GENERAL FUND DEPARTMENTS DEPARTMENT 104, THE COLLECTORS DEPARTMENT. WELCOME.>> I'LL GIVE MS. GREEN THE COURTESY AND LET HER TAKE A SEAT.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY SOMETHING WHEN YOU'RE SHORTER THAN THE MICROPHONE, AND I GOT HEELS ON TONIGHT.
I TRUST THAT YOU-ALL READ AND STUDIED WITH RAPTURE THE 58 PAGES OF THE CYBERSECURITY MANDATE THAT HAS BEEN PUT ON US BY LEGISLATIVE AUDIT IT.
ALTHOUGH THEY BRAGGED AND BRAGGED ON OUR DEPARTMENT, WITH ALL OF THE ATTACKS GOING ON STATEWIDE, IT HAS BECOME IMPERATIVE THAT THEY TAKE EVERYTHING UP A NOTCH, AND OF COURSE, WE'RE LOCAL, SO THEY COME DOWN HERE FIRST AND ENCOURAGE US.
THE COMMENT WAS MADE, ALTHOUGH WE NEVER LIKE TO GROW STAFF THAT WE REALLY NEED SOMEBODY FOCUSED ON CYBERSECURITY THAT'S WHY THAT HAS COME BEFORE YOU TONIGHT.
WE HEAR OTHER COUNTIES HOPING THAT THEY CAN FINALLY GET SOMEBODY, BUT MANY OF THEM DON'T HAVE ANYBODY FOR IT.
WE LIKE THE FACT THAT THERE WOULD BE INDEPENDENTS, NOT JUST YOUR SOFTWARE PROVIDER.
I'LL TALK TO YOU FIRST ABOUT THE JUSTIFICATION LETTER THAT I SENT YOU, AND I'VE GOT NUMBERS HERE IF YOU NEED THEM.
IN THE JUSTIFICATION LETTER, WE BASICALLY SPOKE TO YOU IN THE FIRST PERSON, THE TAX AND DISTRIBUTION MANAGER.
WE HAVE GONE FROM ABOUT 1,200 DISABLED VETERANS IN PULASKI COUNTY AND WE ARE NOW OVER 4,200.
THESE HAVE TO BE HANDLED INDIVIDUALLY.
EVERY DISABLED VETERAN SITUATION IS DIFFERENT.
WE ARE RUN OVER WITH THAT SITUATION, AND WE ARE TOLD BY THE LOCAL VA OFFICES THAT WE'LL PROBABLY HAVE 5,000 BY THE END OF THE YEAR, AND THAT'S SCARY BECAUSE WE'RE NOT STAFFED FOR THAT.
WHAT WE HAVE CHOSEN TO DO RATHER THAN ASK FOR A NEW PERSON IS TO EXPAND THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE PERSON WE ALREADY HAVE IN PLACE, AND THAT WAY, IT'S NOT ADDING TO STAFF.
THIS IS A SITUATION THAT WE BELIEVE IS CAUSED BY THE 20 YEAR AFGHAN WAR AND OTHER THINGS THAT ARE GOING ON.
IT IS NOW MEN AND WOMEN, IT'S NOT JUST MEN.
WHAT WE ALSO ARE FINDING IS MANY OF THESE DISABLED VETERANS, IT IS THEIR SPOUSE.
IF THEY PASS AWAY, IT IS THEIR SPOUSE WITH BENEFITS, HELPING ONE OF THEIR CHILDREN WORK THROUGH THE BENEFITS.
WE ALMOST HAVE BECOME THEIR COUNSELORS IN A CERTAIN WAY.
OUR HEART IS THERE. ANYWAY, THE FIRST POSITION THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR AN UPGRADE, WHICH HAS BEEN THROUGH HR, BEEN THROUGH JOHANSEN, ETC., IS JUST AN UPGRADE FOR THAT PARTICULAR POSITION BECAUSE THEY'RE TAKING ON A WHOLE LOT MORE RESPONSIBILITY.
WITH THIS DISABLED VETERAN SITUATION BECAUSE THEY'RE TAX EXEMPT AND THEY'RE CONFUSED MANY TIMES ABOUT WHAT'S WHAT? YOU ALL KNOW IT'S A LOT OF PAPERWORK.
THAT'S THE POSITION WE'D LIKE TO UPGRADE.
THE TWO NEW POSITIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR, WE ARE IF YOU READ THE JUSTIFICATION LETTER THAT WE SENT YOU, YOU CAN SEE THAT WE ARE SUPPORTING OVER ALL THE PHONE SYSTEMS, OVER 100 SOFTWARE COMPUTER SYSTEMS. IF SOMEBODY LOSES THEIR PASSWORD, SOMEBODY IS GOT TO STOP RIGHT THAT MINUTE, HELP THEM WALK THROUGH HOW TO DO IT.
WELL, IT'S A BURDEN NOW BECAUSE WE HAVE SO MANY THINGS GOING ON.
THERE'S NO CENTRAL FOCUS FOR EVERYBODY CALL THE HELP DESK AND THEN THEY ASSIGN PEOPLE TO IT.
THAT IS A POSITION THAT REALLY HAS BECOME CRITICAL FOR US AS WELL.
AGAIN, ALL OF THESE HAVE BEEN THROUGH HR APPROVED, JOHANSEN, ETC., SO WE'RE CONFIDENT ABOUT THEM.
I ALREADY MENTIONED THE CYBERSECURITY POSITION.
IF ANY OF YOU ACTUALLY WANT THE BOOKLET AND TO READ 58 PAGES, FRONT AND BACK IN SMALL PRINT, REALLY SMALL FONT, BY THE WAY, I WILL BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU ONE SO THAT YOU CAN
[00:05:01]
SEE WHAT WE ARE UP AGAINST THIS NEXT YEAR.BUT WITH RESPECT, I WILL SAY THIS, ALL OF YOU KNOW THAT IN OUR 24TH YEAR WE DON'T ASK FOR SOMETHING WE DON'T NEED.
THE COUNTY PAY 7.5 AND I KNOW, REPRESENTATIVE JP SOWERS ALWAYS SAYS IT'S STILL TAX MONEY, IT IS TAX MONEY.
BUT WE'RE THE ONE WHO BRINGS IT IN, SO WE ARE JUDICIOUS AND CONSERVATIVE ABOUT HOW WE ASK TO SPEND IT.
FROM THAT PERSPECTIVE, I WILL SAY THAT I HAVE SEEN THE ASSESSOR WORK VERY HARD WITH US TO TRY TO GET TO VALUES.
WE PUT THE MILEAGE ON. WE HAVE A SMOOTH OPERATING MACHINE.
OTHERWISE, THERE WOULD BE A WHOLE LOT MORE EXPENSES BECAUSE WE ARE VERY CAUTIOUS.
I RESPECTFULLY REQUEST APPROVAL OF THIS REQUEST, AND OF COURSE, ANY QUESTIONS?
JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. THANK YOU, MS. BUCKNER, FOR BEING HERE AND BRINGING YOUR LEADERSHIP TEAM WITH YOU THIS EVENING.
I THINK YOU HAVE SPOKE SOME WISE WORDS.
>> I CAN TELL YOU IN MY TENURE ON THIS BODY, I FOUND TO BE TRUE THAT YOU DO NOT WHIMSICALLY, ASK FOR EXPANSION OF YOUR DEPARTMENT.
I THINK YOU HAVE PROVIDED BOTH IN WRITING AND THEN VERBALLY HERE THIS EVENING.
WHAT I AT LEAST NEEDED IN MY MIND TO HEAR, AS FAR AS JUSTIFICATION IS CONCERNED.
PARTICULARLY ON THE CYBERSECURITY PIECE.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT CORPORATIONS AND GOVERNMENTS AND ALL KINDS OF ENTITIES ARE GOING THROUGH TO THAT REGARD RIGHT NOW.
MY FORMER EMPLOYER WHO HAS A SUBSIDIARY CALLED CHANGE HEALTHCARE HAS CHANGED THE HEALTHCARE WORLD IN THE LAST FOUR MONTHS BECAUSE OF A CYBERATTACK.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THE THREE REQUESTS FROM THE COLLECTOR, THE UPGRADE, AS WELL AS THE TWO NEW POSITIONS TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT WITH DUE PASS RECOMMENDATION, AND I ALSO WANT TO SAY THAT THIS FALLS WITHIN THE PARAMETERS FINANCIALLY OF THE NUMBERS THAT COMPTROLLER PROVIDED AT OUR PREVIOUS BUDGET MEETING.
>> IT HAS BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND TO MOVE THE COLLECTORS DEPARTMENT REQUEST FORWARD TO THE FULL QUORUM COURT.
JUSTICE ELLIOTT, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> I JUST WANT TO LET YOU KNOW THAT LONG AS I'VE BEEN HERE, I'VE BEEN HERE QUITE A GOOD WHILE NOW.
BUT REAL QUICK, I'M JUST GLAD WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AND WORK WITH YOU AND I THANK YOU'RE DOING A GOOD JOB.
I'M SURE TO SECOND THAT ALSO. THANK YOU.
>> IT'S THE BACK ROW THAT YOU NEED TO APPLAUD.
>> THANK YOU, JUSTICE ELLIOTT.
JUSTICE LEWISON, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
I'D JUST LIKE TO THANK THE BACK ROW FOR EVERYTHING THAT YOU DO BECAUSE YOU'RE REALLY HARD WORKERS.
I COULDN'T DO YOUR JOB AT ALL.
MS. BUCKNER PROBABLY WOULD HAVE FIRED ME WITHIN THE FIRST WEEK.
>> MAYBE THE FIRST DAY. BUT I APPRECIATE YOU COMING IN.
YOU'VE NEVER COME BEFORE US WHEN YOU DIDN'T NEED ANYTHING, SO I JUST APPRECIATE EVERYBODY THAT WORKS FOR YOU, SO I JUST WANT TO THROW THAT IN BECAUSE MR. STOWERS SAID EVERYTHING I WANTED TO SAY.
>> THANK YOU, JUSTICE LEWISON.
ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
>> BRAD TREASURER. Y'ALL PAY YOUR TAXES? I JUST HAD TO SAY THAT.
>> THANK YOU FOR KEEPING US ON OUR TOES AND YOU DEFINITELY DO THAT.
THERE BE NO OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS, JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?
>> YES, MA'AM. I DIDN'T PICK UP THE SECOND ON THAT, WHO SECONDED THAT?
>> FIVE AYES, ZERO NOS, THREE NOT HERE.
>> JUDY, I'M SORRY. MS. GREEN?
>> LET'S GO 6-0 TWO NON VOTING. I APOLOGIZE.
[00:10:05]
>> THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
THANK YOU ALL FOR COMING AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE ARE NOW DOWN TO OUR DEPARTMENT 416 PROSECUTING ATTORNEY. WELCOME.
>> WELCOME. DO YOU WANT TO DO THIS TOGETHER?
>> ACTUALLY, YOU ARE ALSO DEPARTMENT 440.
IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO PRESENT ALL FOUR OF YOUR REQUEST.
>> I'M CERTAINLY FINE DOING IT IF THAT WORKS FOR YOU ALL.
>> MADAM CHAIR AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, I JUST FIRST WANT TO SAY IT'S A PRIVILEGE TO COME BEFORE THIS BODY.
I'VE NOT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY YET IN THE FIRST 15 MONTHS OF MY TERM TO COME BEFORE YOU GUYS. NO, THANK YOU.
I CERTAINLY APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE, AND I WOULD NOT BE HERE TONIGHT.
BUT FOR THE FACT THAT WE ARE IN DESPERATE NEED OF HELP.
YOU GUYS, I'M SURE ARE WELL AWARE OF SOME OF THE PROBLEMS WE'VE HAD WITH THE BACKLOG OF COVID.
BUT I JUST WANT TO GIVE YOU SOME NUMBERS TO PUT THAT IN PERSPECTIVE OF WHY WE FEEL LIKE WE NEED TO BE HERE TONIGHT ASKING FOR HELP FROM THIS BODY.
SO IN JANUARY OF 2023 WHEN WE TOOK OFFICE, WE HAD OVER 14,000 OPEN CASES.
WE WENT BACK AND LOOKED AT THE NUMBERS AND IN JANUARY OF 2020, BEFORE THE PANDEMIC HIT, WE HAD 7,016 CASES IN JANUARY OF 2020.
WHEN WE CAME IN, IN JANUARY OF 2023, WE HAD OVER 14,000 CASES.
NOW, THAT NUMBER TODAY, THANKFULLY, I'LL TELL YOU, I'M GLAD TO REPORT THAT THAT NUMBER IS DOWN TO 9,604.
WE HAVE WORKED THROUGH ABOUT ALMOST 5,000 CASES.
NOW SOME OF THE INFAIRNESS, SOME OF THAT WAS CLEAN UP.
SOME OF THOSE WERE CASES THAT HADN'T BEEN CLOSED.
SO SENTENCING ORDERS AND THINGS NEED TO BE DONE, BUT OUR ATTORNEYS AND OUR STAFF ARE WORKING VERY HARD TO COME THROUGH THIS BACKLOG.
IN ADDITION TO THAT, YOU KNOW THAT WE HAVE AN OVERWHELMING AMOUNT OF SERIOUS VIOLENT CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY.
I KNOW THAT YOU GUYS FEEL THE SAME WAY WE DO ABOUT THAT.
IT BREAKS OUR HEART EVERY TIME WE TALK WITH A FAMILY AND MOTHERS AND FATHERS WHO HAVE LOST CHILDREN AND HAVE TO BURY THEIR CHILDREN, WHICH NO ONE SHOULD EVER HAVE TO IT BREAKS OUR HEART.
THE YEAR BEFORE WE TOOK OFFICE IN 2022 WAS THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF HOMICIDES ON RECORD IN PULASKI COUNTY, 119 HOMICIDES.
AND SO WHEN YOU'RE SITTING THERE PREPARING TO TAKE THIS OFFICE WITH THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS OFFICE AND THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES WHEN YOU SEE THAT THAT MANY FAMILIES ARE GRIEVING LOVED ONES LOSS IN THE STREETS OF PULASKI COUNTY TO VIOLENCE, IT'S A VERY SOBERING THOUGHT.
AND SO TODAY, WE'VE WORKED THROUGH A LOT OF THOSE, BUT TODAY WE STILL HAVE OVER 230 HOMICIDES PENDING IN OUR OFFICE.
THAT REALLY IS THE REASON FOR SOME OF THESE POSITIONS THAT WE'RE ASKING FOR.
DO YOU ALL MIND IF I TAKE THESE A LITTLE BIT OUT OF ORDER AS FAR AS HOW I PRESENT THEM? I WANTED TO START BY SAYING BECAUSE OF THAT BACKLOG, AND WE WORKED WITH THE COURTS AND THE ADMINISTRATIVE JUDGE, JUDGE WHATLEY, THEY CAME UP WITH A PLAN TO OPEN UP AN ADDITIONAL CRIMINAL COURT FOR US.
SO THAT GIVES US ANOTHER COURT TO GO THROUGH AND ANOTHER CHANCE TO HAVE JURY TRIALS AND PLEAS AND ALL THAT KIND OF STUFF.
WE NOW HAVE FIVE OPEN COURTS AND WE TYPICALLY OPERATED WITH FOUR.
THREE OF THESE POSITIONS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THAT NEW COURT, AND THAT WOULD BE THE CASE CLERK POSITION C 109 IS PREDOMINANTLY BECAUSE OF THAT NEW COURT OPENING AND WE NEED A NEW CASE CLERK TO HELP PREPARE THOSE CASES FOR COURT AND DO WHAT WE CAN DO TO SERVE OUR COMMUNITY IN THAT RESPECT.
A NEW INVESTIGATOR DEMAND THAT OUR INVESTIGATORS TYPICALLY SERVE OUR SUBPOENAS AND DO THOSE THINGS AND ESCORT VICTIMS AND FAMILIES BACK TO COURT WHEN WE NEED IT, SO THAT NEW COURT OPENING UP NECESSITATED US ASKING FOR AN ADDITIONAL INVESTIGATOR POSITION.
THEN WE'VE ASKED FOR TWO VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR POSITIONS BECAUSE I KNOW YOU UNDERSTAND THE RESPONSIBILITY THAT WE HAVE TO HELP VICTIMS AND THEIR FAMILIES THROUGH THIS CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS.
THERE ARE MANY STATE MANDATED REQUIREMENTS ON NOTICE AND THINGS LIKE THAT, AND THOSE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES THAT WE TAKE VERY SERIOUSLY AND OUR VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR DIRECTOR IS HERE TONIGHT, MS. MARY BLACK, SHE DOES A FANTASTIC JOB.
I REALLY SHOULD INTRODUCE ALL THE FOLKS THAT CAME WITH ME.
KELLY WARD IS OUR CHIEF DEPUTY AND SHE'S THE ONE THAT DOES THE HEAVY LIFTING ON RUNNING THE OFFICE DAY TO DAY AND KEEPING US GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION AND SOME OF THE NEW THINGS THAT WE'RE TRYING TO WORK ON IN TERMS OF PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS.
SHE'S REALLY TAKING THE LEAD ON THAT.
THEN KELVIN LAUREN HERE ON THE END IS OUR OFFICE MANAGER, AND THESE POSITIONS WOULD ULTIMATELY BE REPORTING TO HIM.
NOW, TWO OF THESE VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR POSITIONS WOULD BE UNDER MS. BLACK.
BUT THE STAFF, THE OTHER COUNTY EMPLOYEES WOULD BE UNDER MR. LORING,
[00:15:03]
WHO AT ONE POINT RAN OUR RECORDS DEPARTMENT AND NOW IS THE OFFICE MANAGER OVER REALLY ALL OF OUR COUNTY EMPLOYEES AND DOES A VERY GOOD JOB KEEPING THEM TOGETHER DAY TO DAY.THE CASE CLERK POSITION, C 109, C 117, THE INVESTIGATOR POSITION, AND AT LEAST ONE OF THE VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR POSITIONS ARE DIRECTLY RELATED TO THIS NEW COURT OPENING UP AND WE'RE GRATEFUL THAT NEW COURT OPENING UP WE'RE MANNING IT NOW, BUT THE CASE NUMBERS ARE GETTING TO A POINT WHERE WE NEED TO HAVE HELP TO BE ABLE TO STAFF THAT COURT.
THEN THE ADDITIONAL VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR POSITION IS BECAUSE THE HEAVIEST LIFT FOR US AS AN OFFICE IS TO HELP THESE FAMILIES THAT HAVE LOST THEIR LOVED ONES THROUGH THE SYSTEM.
OBVIOUSLY, WE TAKE THAT RESPONSIBILITY VERY SERIOUSLY AND WITH 230 CASES IN OUR OFFICE, WE HAVE ONE VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATOR THAT ONLY DEALS WITH HOMICIDES EXCLUSIVELY AND SHE HAS 87 CASES RIGHT NOW.
AND THAT'S 87 FAMILIES THAT SHE'S JUGGLING TO TRY TO KEEP THEM ABREAST OF COURT DATES AND MEETINGS AND ALL THOSE THINGS AND NOT ONLY ANSWERING THE QUESTIONS THAT THEY HAVE THAT ARE ALL VALID QUESTIONS AND WE REALLY TAKE THOSE SERIOUSLY ALL THE TIME.
MANY OF US ATTORNEYS TRY TO TAKE THOSE CALLS AS WELL AND I TAKE A LOT OF THOSE CALLS.
MS. WARD TAKES A LOT OF THOSE CALLS.
BUT IT IS THE DAY TO DAY RESPONSIBILITY OF THE VICTIM WITNESS COORDINATORS BECAUSE WE HAVE OBLIGATIONS IN COURT AND THOSE KIND OF THINGS AND THEY'RE THE ONES THAT ARE TYPICALLY THERE TO ANSWER THOSE CALLS.
WE JUST BELIEVE THAT THE FAMILIES DESERVE THAT, THEY DESERVE THAT ATTENTION FROM US.
WE BELIEVE THAT'S WHAT OUR DUTY IS AND TO DO OUR JOB AND DO IT THE BEST THAT WE CAN, WE NEED A COUPLE OF EXTRA PEOPLE TO HELP WITH THAT.
>> THOSE ARE THOSE FOUR POSITIONS, AND THEN THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER, THAT'S SOMETHING THAT I THOUGHT ABOUT COMING IN, HOW CAN WE INCREASE OUR CONNECTION WITH OUR COMMUNITY.
PART OF THAT IN TODAY'S WORLD IS SOCIAL MEDIA, ENGAGEMENT WITH THE MEDIA AND THOSE THINGS.
I HAVE BEEN TAKEN ON MOST OF THAT MYSELF AND I'VE GOT GREAT RELATIONSHIPS WITH OUR MEDIA PARTNERS.
I DID AN INTERVIEW TODAY THAT WILL BE AT SOME POINT IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS ON KTHV ABOUT OUR HOMICIDE CASES AND ALL THAT.
I REALLY ENJOY THAT RELATIONSHIP AND RELISH THAT RELATIONSHIP.
BUT WHAT I'VE FOUND, ESPECIALLY IN THE LAST MONTH, I KNOW YOU ALL ARE AWARE OF SOME OF THE REPORTS AND INVESTIGATIONS THAT HAVE LANDED ON MY DESK IN THE LAST MONTH AND THE OUTPOURING AND THE QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FROM THE MEDIA HAS ALMOST GROUND ME DOWN.
IT'S REALLY PREVENTED ME FROM BEING ABLE TO DO A LOT OF THE DAY TO DAY STUFF THAT I NEED TO BE DOING BECAUSE I HAVE TO BE ANSWERING THOSE.
I HATE TO READ THE PAPER AND SAY, A CALL TO THE PROSECUTOR'S OFFICE WAS RETURNED.
I HATE THAT WHEN THAT HAPPENS, BUT OCCASIONALLY IT DOES.
IN TODAY'S WORLD, ALSO MISS WARD AND I TYPICALLY RESPOND TO THE HOMICIDE SCENES AND WE'RE CALLED OUT, ESPECIALLY WITH LITTLE ROCK, WE'RE PART OF THEIR ALERT SYSTEM.
WHEN THE HOMICIDE UNIT IS CALLED OUT WHEN THERE'S BEEN A DEATH IN THE STREETS OF LITTLE ROCK, THEY CALL US OUT AS WELL AND WE GO TO THOSE SCENES AND MISS WARD TAKES THE LOAD OF WORKING WITH THE DETECTIVES AND GETTING THE AFFIDAVITS TOGETHER AND GETTING THOSE THINGS TOGETHER TO MAKE SURE THAT THE CASE IS IN A GOOD POSITION ULTIMATELY TO MAKE AN ARREST AND THEN FILE A CHARGE AND GO FORWARD.
WHAT WE NOTICED WHEN WE GO TO THOSE SCENES THAT ALL THE POLICE AGENCIES HAVE A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER AND THEY START THE MEDIA REQUESTS COME TO THAT PERSON, AND THEN THEY FILTER THAT AND THEY'RE ABLE TO DO THAT WHILE THE INVESTIGATORS ARE STILL WORKING.
THE INVESTIGATORS DON'T HAVE TO TAKE CALLS FROM THE MEDIA AND THAT THING.
WE GOT TO PUT OUR HEADS TOGETHER, THINKING ABOUT ALL THE DUTIES THAT ALL THE THINGS THAT WE THINK A PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER WOULD DO TO HELP OUR OFFICE.
ONE OF THOSE IS ANSWERING FOI REQUESTS BECAUSE THOSE ARE MUCH GREATER THAN THEY USED TO BE, AND WE UNDERSTAND AND RESPECT THE FOI LAWS, AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE'RE DOING WHAT WE CAN DO TO GET PEOPLE INFORMATION THAT THEY WANT.
NOW WE'RE IN THE PROCESS OF ALMOST DONE BUILDING A WEBSITE THAT HELPS EDUCATE THE PUBLIC.
WHEN PEOPLE HAVE QUESTIONS ABOUT OUR OFFICE, THEY CAN LOOK THERE AND GET THE INFORMATION THEY NEED TO GO FORWARD.
THIS POSITION WOULD BE SOMEONE THAT MONITORS THAT WEBSITE AND KEEPS US GOING, KEEPS OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE GOING AND JUST HELPING US TO STAY CONNECTED TO THE COMMUNITY.
WE BELIEVE THAT THAT'S AN IMPORTANT PART OF WHAT WE WANT THIS OFFICE TO BE AND WANT THE PUBLIC TO KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THEM.
WHEN I RAN FOR OFFICE AND WE WENT THROUGH THE CAMPAIGN, I FOUND THAT IT BROKE MY HEART TO FIND THAT THERE WERE CERTAIN COMMUNITIES THAT DID NOT HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH OUR OFFICE AND THAT BROKE MY HEART.
I WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT WE REPAIR THOSE CONNECTIONS AND I THINK WE'VE DONE A GREAT JOB TRYING TO DO THAT.
BUT IN TODAY'S WORLD, SOCIAL MEDIA AND THE MEDIA IS A BIG PART OF HOW THAT INFORMATION GETS OUT THERE.
WE WANT TO BE ACCESSIBLE AND WE WANT TO HELP GET INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC IN A TIMELY MANNER AND THAT'S WHY WE FEEL THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER WOULD BE AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE FACE OF THIS OFFICE GOING FORWARD SO THAT THE COMMUNITY CAN HAVE FAITH THAT WE'RE DOING OUR JOB DAY TO DAY.
[00:20:05]
WITH THAT, I'LL CERTAINLY OPEN UP TO QUESTIONS I DON'T HOW THIS PROCESS WORKS, BUT I ASSUME THAT'S POTENTIALLY WHAT HAPPENS.>> THANK YOU. WE DO HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU.
JUSTICE STOWERS, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> THANK YOU, MA'AM. MR. JONES, FIRST OF ALL, THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE THIS EVENING AND FOR PRESENTING IN A VERY STRONG LIGHT YOUR JUSTIFICATION FOR YOUR REQUESTS THAT ARE BEFORE US.
IN 2014, WE HAD A NEW COUNTY JUDGE ELECTED AFTER A QUARTER OF A CENTURY OF LEADERSHIP OF THE PREVIOUS COUNTY JUDGE.
I REMEMBER WHEN THAT HAPPENED THAT WE GAVE THE NEW COUNTY JUDGE SOME GRACE, I GUESS YOU WOULD SAY SOME LEEWAY BECAUSE HE WANTED TO DO SOME THINGS THAT WAS DIFFERENT FROM THE PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATION.
>> WE FIND OURSELVES IN A VERY SIMILAR SITUATION HERE WHERE I WOULD CONSIDER THIS, WE'RE STILL IN THE HONEYMOON PHASE A LITTLE BIT AND THAT WE HAD A PROSECUTOR FOR 25 YEARS AND 24 YEARS AND YOU ASSUME THAT OFFICE UPON HIS RETIREMENT AND BEING ELECTED.
I SAID ALL THAT TO SAY THAT I BELIEVE THAT ANYTIME AND I KNOW MISS BUCKNER IS LEFT, BUT I'M SURE SHE'LL BE WITH US FOREVER.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, WHAT I'M TRYING TO SAY IS I BELIEVE WHEN YOU HAVE A CHANGE OF LEADERSHIP AFTER DECADES OF LEADERSHIP THAT YOU HAVE GOT TO ALLOW THAT NEW DEPARTMENT HEAD, ELECTED OFFICIAL, WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE, SOME LEEWAY TO BUILD THEIR DEPARTMENT IN THE MANNER IN WHICH THEY NEED TO.
WE GAVE THAT SAME GRACE TO SHERIFF HIGGINS WHEN HE WAS FIRST ELECTED, AND WE'VE ADDED MANY POSITIONS TO HIS OFFICE THROUGH THE YEARS.
I WANT TO SAY THAT AND ALSO SAY THAT, WE'RE NOT ALWAYS EASY TO DEAL WITH.
SOMETIMES THE RUBBER MEETS THE ROW WHEN IT COMES TO THE FINANCES.
BUT I FEEL STRONGLY PERSONALLY AS A MEMBER OF THIS COMMITTEE THAT YOU HAVE PRESENTED ADEQUATE JUSTIFICATION FOR YOUR NEEDS.
I BELIEVE THAT THESE NEEDS WILL BE BETTER JAIL THE COMMUNITY WITH WHAT YOU DO.
THERE'S SO MANY FOLKS WHO ARE SCARED OF THE PROSECUTOR THAT FEEL LIKE THE PROSECUTOR IS OUT TO GET THEM.
MY CONVERSATIONS WITH YOU EVEN BACK WHEN YOU WERE RUNNING FOR OFFICE WAS THAT YOU WERE GOING TO BE A COMPASSIONATE YET A LAW AND ORDER PROSECUTOR.
HAVING SAID ALL THAT, I WANT TO MAKE A MOTION THAT WE SEND THE THREE REQUESTS FOR BUDGET 416.
AND THEN THE TWO REQUESTS FOR BUDGET 440 TO THE FULL CORUM COURT WITH THE PASS RECOMMENDATION?
>> IT'S BEEN MOVED AND PROPERLY SECOND THAT WE SEND PROSECUTOR ATTORNEY'S REQUESTS TO THE FULL CORUM COURT.
THANK YOU, JUSTICE STOWERS, JUSTICE ELLIOTT, YOU'RE RECOGNIZED.
>> I JUST WANTED TO ASK YOU ABOUT A FORMER EMPLOYEE, IF YOU DON'T MIND.
BUT, YOU WEREN'T THERE, OF COURSE, BUT HIS FIRST NAME IS JERRY LAMMERSON?
>> YES. HE WAS OUR CHIEF INVESTIGATOR FOR YEARS.
>> HE WAS, AND HE'S A DEAR FRIEND OF MY BROTHER, HE'S A DEAR FRIEND OF MY FATHER IN LAW, I FEEL LIKE HE'S A MEMBER OF OUR FAMILY AS WELL.
HE LOST HIS GRANDSON TRAGICALLY HERE A WHILE BACK.
HE WAS YOUNG, YOUNGER THAN ME AND I SAW HIM AND WILDA AT HIS WIFE, WILDA, SAW THEM AT THE VISITATIONS BEEN ABOUT A MONTH PROBABLY AGO THAT I SAW HIM.
BUT YES, A GREAT LEADER IN OUR OFFICE WHEN HE WAS THERE.
THANKFUL HE FINALLY RETIRED AND FINALLY.
>> THAT'S WHAT I ASKED HIM I THOUGHT HE HAD JUST RETIRED, NOT JUST RETIRED.
>> I THINK IT'S BEEN ABOUT PROBABLY FIVE YEARS NOW OR SO.
>> I THINK IT HAVE BEEN THAT LONG. I THINK SO.
BUT HE'S A GREAT MAN AND LET OUR OFFICE FOR A LONG TIME AS AN INVESTIGATOR, AND I CERTAINLY LEARNED A LOT FROM HIM AS A YOUNG ATTORNEY.
>> I'M JUST TRYING TO ASK HIM.
>> WELL I UNDERSTAND BUY IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH WHAT'S ON THE TABLE I'M SORRY.
NOT JUST SPEAKING ON YOU, I WILL DING ANYBODY ELSE.
I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GIVE YOU ALL A LITTLE GRACE, BUT I DON'T MIND INTERRUPTING AND LETTING YOU KNOW WHEN YOU'RE OUT OF ORDER.
THANK YOU. ANY OTHER QUESTIONS IN REGARDS TO WHAT'S ON THE TABLE?
>> NO. EVERYTHING IS FINE WITH ME.
[00:25:01]
IF THERE BE NO OTHER QUESTIONS, JUSTIN, WOULD YOU CALL THE ROLL, PLEASE?>> MR. ELLIOTT? MR. STOWERS? MISS GREEN.\?
>> GOT YOU THIS TIME. MS. MASSEY?
>> SIX AYES, ZERO NAYS. CONGRATULATIONS.
>> THANK YOU. THIS WILL GO TO THE FULL CURUM COURT FOR FINAL APPROVAL.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR COMING, AND THANK YOU ALL FOR MEETING ALL OF YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.
>> WE ARE NOW DOWN TO OUR ADJOURNMENT BEFORE I DO THAT.
JUSTICE YOU KNOW I LOVE YOU, DON'T YOU? THAT'S WHY I HAD TO REPRIMAND YOU.
[LAUGHTER] CAN I GET A MOTION FOR ADJOURNMENT, PLEASE?
>> ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
>> ARE THERE ANY ANNOUNCEMENTS?
>> THANK YOU ALL.
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.